PC will not recognise Ipod-have tried everything!

Question

I have brand new 4gp ipod mini. Uploaded software-when it said to connect ipod I did. when it got to the screen on the uploding wizard thingie that asked about formatting the ipod the "next" button was not highlighted, so with no other option, I ticked the "tick here if you want to install software without ipod connected" and carried on.
PC will not recognise ipod as either a piece of hardware or in itunes.
It is connect via a USB 2 port which is on a USB 2 card. The ipod does charge so that bit is working. The PC is about 4 years old and has Windows XP.
When i plug into an old USB 1 port the PC recongises the ipod, but says the port cannot support it (assume as it is too slow)
I have tried the following things
1. remove all ipod/itunes software and restore-using both the software downloads from apple site as well as the software which came with ipod
2. resetting it
3. putting it in disco format when plugged into PC.
Plse can someone tell me what I shoudl try next? I have looked through all the discussion threads and apple site and cannto see anything that seeems to fit this problem. I am assuming it is related to the USB.....but could be very wrong!
thanks
Chantal

Answer 1

Hi,
I have EXACTLY the same problem, my computer is even the same age as yours! I re-installed etc etc, I downloaded XP service pack 2, I have a 4GB ipod mini, I reset it and reset it again, I phoned Apple support, not a lot of help considering they told me to doexactly what I had been doing already, told me to try on another computer and like you I don't have any other to try on, I tried other devices in the USB 2 port (also a PCI card like yours) and they work fine, and the ipod charges. I went back to the Apple store to swap it for another one and the guy there said that it sounds as though my computer is only recognising the ipod as a external hard drive instead of a music player. When I plug it in I get a little bubble saying found new hardware mass storage device, and then anopther bubble says there was a problem installing hardware and the device may not work corretly (which clearly it doesn't!). So he told me to find smeone who is really good with windows (where....?) to sort out my computer so that it recognises it as an ipod and not an external hard drive, aparently there is a way to do this. I do have someone coming to check it oput tonight, if they can solve the problem then I will let you know how they do it!
Sorry can't be any more help but I suppose it's good to know there's someone else in the same situation!!!!